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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — letters
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. spell — a short time
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. net — for catching
  22. can — a tin
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com